I have been a bit behind so have published two blogs in one go.

So we continued to the Vietnam border, again going through the process of leaving one country before entering the next but the process was quicker than the Thai/Cambodian one. We got to the hotel at Chau Doc, had some late lunch and freshen up then onto the tours.

First we headed to the river via the local (mad) market to get onto a long tail boat to go and see the floating village. We took a detour to a fish farm and took the chance to feed the fish (catfish) watching them nearly jump out of the water to get the food. We then carried on around the different parts of the village before actually going to visit part if it. We walked down the narrow planks to go and see a lady making silk scarves and talk to the locals.

We traveled back along the river to join the rest of the group and then took local motorbikes up Sam mountain. We each traveled on the back of a motorbike with a mad local driving through the traffic. So funny!! We headed up to the top of the mountain in time to watch the sunset, really beautiful and then it was home time.

The journey back was pretty entertaining as not only was it dark making potholes harder to spot, we also had a torrential downpour on route, hail stones and everything. We looked like drowned rats when we got back to the hotel but was sooo funny!! We had a local dinner which was really nice and then a quiet evening and bed.

An early start on Saturday for a long journey to Ho Chi Minh city (Saigon). We travelled for a couple of hours then got a car ferry across the river, then back on the bus to our lunch stop. A bit of a bizarre place as it was kind of a service station but had a posh restaurant and expensive souvenir shop but anyway. Back on the bus again and finally arriving in Saigon around 3pm.

After a bit of a freshen up we had an orientation tour of the city, then Wasa (our tour leader) went to do the welcome meeting for the newbies. Six of our original group were leaving us in Ho Chi Minh and we were gaining five newbies so we all went for dinner together as a first/last night celebration.

We had a nice dinner getting to know each other a bit and reminiscing on stories before going for drinks at the crazy buffalo bar and a few cheeky cocktails. All good fun :-)

On Sunday we all headed out together to visit the Cu-Chi tunnels and war
Museum. The tunnels were original tunnels used by the Vietcong during the Vietnam war to hide from the US troops. They acted as both air raid shelters and hideouts and were a matrix of tiny tunnels and rooms underground like a kitchen/dining room, hospital and storage for supplies/ammunition.

We had a chance to see the size of the entrances (cover photo) and the traps that were set up to stop anyone finding the Vietcong. We also had a chance to go inside an original tunnel to understand a little more what it would have felt like. I just about got inside the tunnel before bailing. Not my cup of tea but good to see.

After this tour we headed to the war remnants museum where we saw various collections of information about the war. This ranged from international posters from many countries showing their support for Vietnam, photographs from various journalistic photographers taken during the war, displays of the various weapons used but most distressingly photos of children, mainly second generation, who have been horrendously disabled due to their parents contact with Agent Orange (a highly toxic defoliant used by the americans) during or after the war. Not for the feint hearted.

We headed back for lunch and a refresh ready for our first overnight train. We had bunks in cabins of four and the train was starting in Ho Chi Minh which made it easier but interesting to see what the different classes of travel are like. Six bunk cabins and reclining chairs through to slatted benches. I think we were in first class.

While some of the group decided to get an early night (and I was meant to catch up on writing this!) the Irish newbie couple had brought a bottle of vodka so we ended up having a mini party in one of the cabins before heading to bed around 11pm. The train arrived into Nha Trang at six in the morning and fortunately a few of our rooms were free so we caught up on a bit of sleep.

Nha Trang is a Coastal town in Vietnam so today's activity was a beach trip. The main beach you can walk to from the hotel but we took a short bus ride to one slightly further out which meant it was virtually deserted, certainly of westerners.

The beach was beautiful with a mountain backdrop, white sands and blue sea but to top that off we essentially had a day all inclusive. USD15 got us a fantastic BBQ lunch, snacks, transport and unlimited drinks including the local rum which is lovely. I think it is fair to say I got my monies worth. Surprise surprise.

We sunbathed, swam, played frisbee, ate, drank and relaxed in hammocks. Such a good day but four bottles of rum and a bottle of vodka later (between 13!!) and it was time to go home. We slept off a bit of the day before we all met up for dinner and of course a few more drinks. Life on holiday is pretty damn good!!!

A very lazy morning on Tuesday basically getting up to pack and checkout at noon. A bit of lunch and then the next activity, a mineral mud springs spa. It is about 20 mins away from the hotel so we jumped in taxis and headed over in the afternoon, bought our tickets and off we went.

First of all you shower in the natural warm spring water. Then you get into a kind of small swimming pool which fills up with mud!! It is a pretty runny consistancy so you sit in this for about 15 to 20 mins. Of course there was the obligatory mud fight ensuring everyone was covered. You then sit out in the sun for 10-15 mins to let the mud dry before washing it off again in the spring showers. It gets everywhere.

After that you get hydrotherapy from some more springs and then sit in a mineral spa pool for 30 to 45 mins to relax. At this point my fingers were well and truly turned to prunes!! Finally there is a choice of different temperature swimming pools from about 40 degrees to one that is just a bit warmer than a normal indoor pool at home. Fantastic and a great hangover cure!!

We clearly weren't relaxed enough as a few of us decided to get a body massage as well. It wasn't quite Thai massage but she did walk on my back and focussed on pressure points mainly. It was good but no chance of falling asleep during it!

Once we were all finally done we headed back to the hotel. We sorted out bags, rooms etc before heading for dinner and another overnight train, this time though not due to arrive into Danang until 9am...a lie in!!